Apparatus for gasifying liquids



June 26, 1951 A. G. HOWARD APPARATUS FoR GASIFHNG LIQUIDS Filed March l, 1945 JNVENToR. ff/"Hm hm/ez? TMm/EY kwa @ www atented `une 26, 1.951

I TED fs 11A-rss .enfreint .1o-EF HCE APPARATUS Foa GAsIFmN G' LIQUI'DS -Arthur G. `-Howard, Flint, Mich., assigner vto Arrow- Engineering `t Chemical Gompany,"Flint, -Mich., a copatner'ship fApplic'ationMalch 1, 1945,- Srial No. 580,447

ielaim. (creer-L13) 1 2 The invention relates to improvements in-the nscription and4 claims and are illustrated in the `apparatus, for gasifying'a'liquidfandparticularly vaccompanying drawings Which,vbyway of illus- Ytoanimproved apparatus for producing and disvtration, -show preferred embodiments of .the "charging a gaseous insecticide or other like-sub- V.principle thereofA and which are considered to be stance. 5 `the best mode contemplated for applying ythat The apparatus vdisclosed 'is jpari-:icularly useful principle Other embodiments of the 'invention --lfor `gasiiying insecticide'originally in liquid form, embodying-fthesame principle maybe used and and the apparatusl is Yintended primarily for the structural lchanges may he made as desired by '-'discharge of the gasied insecticideun'der presthoseskilled 'in the art without departingffrorn vrsu-re .directly into vbins `of a kind fused for the 10- the present invention and the purvievv'of the -apf'stora'gef i'lour'or intolcontainers of other food epended claim. .products. For example, 'flour and other food -In-the drawings: Y lproduc'tsrcann'ot *be treatedwithfknown insecti- Fig. 1 illustrates a Preferred form 0f the 31P- cides in liquid form because vof the damage lreparatus used iorcarrying out the presenti-invensuIting'frOm. a 'commingling offlthe 'liquid with -15 tion. s -the-'ilour orr'other food products. rIt is, there- Fig.2 is-an enlarged fragmentary sectionalvdefore, an object of thepresent inventionto provide tail view of a bleeder baffle used. in the apparatus. .la gasification apparatus-0fhe1kmd -rferredu-to lFig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectionalde- 'Which is particularly intended to effect'complete -tailfview of the expansionvalve used inthe/apfga's'ication of a liquid insecticide' and to dis- 20 paratus disclosed in Fig. 1. v -Scharge such.. gasified substances, under pressure, Fia-44s an enlarged lsectional detail viewY 0f directly intothe interior of a bin or-fbins con- '-theSafetyllerCap- -taining -theflour crother foo'd product; sowas to The embodiment 0f theiipparatus disclosed in blanket the contents thereof. r.liigswl togli inclusive, inthe accompanying .draw- 'The' present apparatus-'for 'gasifying -a liquid ,25. ingsand used Ain carrying out thefpresent method L insecticide is usefulV in eliminating the Vaction of forv gasifying an linsecticide or other liquid,.-in 'mold spores prevalent; in pour and dough 'han- -cludesva pressure 4tank Il, an air compressor i2 dlingmachinery, and it is, therefore, l.another `ohand-a fmotor AI3 rfor Operating the COmPIeSSOI- fject -of the present 'invention to `provide Janovel The COmDrGSSOI l2 may vbe 0f any Suitable WD@ fmeansfor .accomplishing-*this result. fefandis of -sufcientcapacity to create the air fsuch treatmentofithe contents, of storage-'bins pressure neeessaryvfor ecient Operation l0f the rorl'the like as has beenzdescribed:hereinabove appara-tus, and it preferably is operated lby the 'preferably is-performedrat'regumr V.intervalsand lmotor i3 through a conneetinebelt ldlin the 'for predetermined periods vof time. 'It is; Ithere- 'uSuaI man-11er. fore, another/object of the present invention .tof35' zA pipe l5fconnected atione end toy the 'head 4provide a time cotro11edva-ppargtus.:fort prdu'coftheair compressor I2,v is connected-at itsother ing and discharging a gasied 'substancefwhich end With the 10V/@rend OffafSeDafatOr 3 Which `:is` entire1y automatic in @paratign .and mmsefunctions to remove lmoisture from the'airpass- -quently v'may be'rendered Voperative atany ,fpreing therethrough. Water collected inthe-condetermined time or timesfand v'Without interfer- -40ftaner21nay 'be lWiiflld'rmf'l 'hTOughafdrz-n as=ai7 ingfwth'custornaryusageof the'bins'or the like. Tfl". Dry fair leaving the fSBDaTa'Ol 'i5 flows Another object is toprovidea'napparatusemthrough'a' pipe 'line I8 into the upper end-of the bodying a novel combinationandassociation.f *tank-H and a checkvalve I9 is'provided insaid interrelated units coordinated in operation'so as x-'Dpe'ln tOvprSVlt -a reverse flow. The tank to effect complete gasification 'of liquid insecti- 45 -I l -isconstr-uctedto withstand -an internal Workcide, as distinguished from priorfknownmachines ing :press-ure of between 50 -to 75 pounds. A operable to produce: and discharge 'insecticide in lfilling -1: ipe2iis Iprovided on the topof theftangk `the form of a ne stream or spray. through whichliquid rinsecticidey 2| is-admitted Another object of' theV invention is to.. provide fi-nto the interior thereof. The level -of the liquid an'apparatus of the-kind referred to 'which is not w50 2l is always maintained below the level at .which -difcult to assemble'andwhichfis highly efficient compressed rair -enters thetank through pipe I8 :in use and may be'operatedentirely automatiandthe-filling' pipe A20 is suitably closed and `cally at lowcost. Yhermetically'sealedl by a removablecap v22. The

Otherand'further objects of thepresent--inllling/pipefZ is, asbest-'shown-in-Fig.=4, Apro- .vention will-be apparentifrom the-followingY` de- 55 yvided-withan external collar-23 on itsfopen upper end providing a seat for a sealing gasket 24 fitted thereon beneath the threaded closure cap 22. Preferably, the pipe is provided with holes 25 normally closed by the cap so as to allow the internal tank pressure to equalize with atmospheric pressure While the cap is being removed but before it is entirely disconnected from said pipe.

The structure described hereinaboveissuchthat when the compressor I2 is operating, a pressure of from 50 to '75 pounds is constantly maintained upon the liquid 2l. Consequently, the liquid is likewise maintained in the tank I I under a corresponding pressure and will flow under such pressure from said tank I! through any outlet provided therefor. Such an outlet is provided at 26 adjacent the lower end of tank I I, which outlet is suitably fitted with a conduit 21 connected, as at 28, to an expansion valve 29, the details of which will be described presently.

The liquid conduit 21 is provided between its ends with a iiow reduction fitting 30. The reduction fitting 30 is best shown in Fig. 2 and may consist of the usual union fittings 3I, carried on opposed sections of the conduit 21, suitably connected together in a leak proof joining as by a fianged internally threaded ring 32. Prior to securing the union fittings 3I together, a baffle 33, in the form of a circular plate having a port 34 therein of a diameter of about .013 inch, is interposed between said iittings and is accordingly firmly secured in place when said fittings are joined by the ring 32. The baffle 33 acts to reduce the volume of flow of liquid through the conduit 21 and consequently assists in maintaining the necessary pressure head within the tank II.

A second or airV outlet line 35 is connected to the upper end of and communicates With the interior of the tank II so that air contained under pressure in said tank may flow outwardly through the line 35. The line 35 includes a blow-off safety valve 33, a high pressure gauge 31, and a pair of regulators 38 and 39. The regulator 38 is of a type adapted to reduce the air pressure in the line 35 from high to medium and the other regulator reduces the air pressure in said line from medium to low. In this manner the flow of air through line 35 is effectively regulated while maintaining a pressure head Within the tank II. Air at reduced pressure leaving the regulator 39 through line 35 enters a T 40 having a low pressure gauge 4I fitted in one end thereof and a nipple 42 fitted into its other or lower end. The nipple 42 is connected, as by a T 43, with a low pressure air line 44 including a T 45 and an end fitting or T 45. A pipe 41, connected at one end into one end of the end T tting 43, connectsthe low pressure air line with the interior of a manifold 48.

The air line construction, insofar as it has been described hereinabove, is such that air at a pressure equal to that within the tank il flows through the outlet line 35 past the pressure gauge 31 and into the regulator 38 Where its pressure is suitably reduced, and then through the second regulator 39 which further reduces its pressure. The air under this reduced pressure is delivered to the manifold 48 and while flowing to said manifold through the line 44 it entra-ins minute particles of liquid insecticides delivered into said line 44 at the T 45 from the expansion valve 29.

The expansion valve 29 is best illustrated in Fig. 3 and it mayl consist of a housing 49 having an internal tapped boss 50 at its upper end to receive the threaded end 26 of the liquid conduit 21. A passageway l in said boss 50 connects With an internal bore 52 in the housing 49. The bor 52 terminates at its lower end in a reduced passageway having a tubular valve seat 53 therein and the upper end of said bore 52 is internally threaded to receive a fitting 54 having a valve stem 55 mounted therein for adjustment. It should be evident at this time that vertical adjustment of the valve Stem 55 is effective to increase or decrease the rate of ow of liquid through the valve seat 53. In use, the valve stem 55 is so adjusted as to allow a very fine stream of liquid to pass through the valve seat 53. The liquid passing through said tubular valve seat is discharged into a nipple 55 fitted into the bottom of the housing 49 which nipple is connected to the T 45 in the air line 44. If desired, an opening 51 may be provided in the housing 49 to permit visual observation of the flow of the liquid into the nipple 56, a glass 58 being provided within said housing to guide the liquid as it flows past the opening 51.

The liquid, discharged in the form of a fine stream or trickle into the air stream flowing through the air line 44, is entrained by the air and is gasified and carried into the manifold 48 as distinguished from a stream or vapor usually obtained in well known types of spraying devices. The gaseous insecticide entering the manifold 48 is discharged therefrom through one or more lines 53, each of which is connected, as by a fitting 6l including a sea-ling gasket 62, through an opening E3 in a wall 64 of the bin or the like containing the iiour, dough, or other material to be treated. The flow of gaseous insecticide into the bin or bins through any one or more outlet lines 59 may be controlled individually by means of a valve 65 provided in said line preferably adjacent the fitting 6I. It has been found that the gases expanding in the manifold 48 assume very low temperatures, consequently a heater element such as the electric element 6B is associated with the manifold to minimize this condition.

Increased velocity and uniformity of air flow through the line 44 is assured by providing a bypass conduit El which is connected with the line 44 through reduction fittings 58 at T 43. This by-pass conduit receives its supply of air directly from the high pressure air line 35 at a point in advance of the regulator valves 38. A valve 69 is provided in this by-pass line 31 which valve, during normal operation of the apparatus, is but slightly open or cracked in practice it has been f established that continued uniformity of the air flow through line 44 is best effected by the inclusion of the bypass line 31 and valve 69. Thus, should either regulator 38 or 39 cease to function for the purpose intended because, for example, of diaphragm failure, sufficient air will continue to flow through the bypass line 61 for continued operation of the apparatus.

When the apparatus is shut down after a period of use, the gaseous substance contained in the lines 41 and 59 and in the manifold 43 Will condense. Means is therefore provided in the form of a bleeder or return line 1I, connected at one end to the T 43 and at its other end with tank Il so that such condensation may return to the body of liquid in said tank. 'A check valve 12 is provided in said return line 1I to limit the flow of liquid or air therein in one direction only.

It is one of the features of the present invention to provide means whereby the apparatus may be placed in operation automatically at predetermined periods of time and automatically put out of operation at selected intervals. The apparatus also is designed to preventV continued operation of the compressor I2 when the pressure within the tank I I reaches the maximum necessary for eiiicient operation of the apparatus. Accordingly, means is provided in the form of a time control switch '13, which may be of any conventional construction, and which is suitably connected in the electrical circuit of the motor I3 in the usual manner. A pressure switch I4 also of conventional construction is connected through electrical conduit 'I5 with the control circuit in the time control switch 13. The pressure switch 'I4 is adapted for action in response to air pressure contained in the air line 35 and to this end an air conduit 16 connects the mechanism (not shown) of said pressure switch 'I4 with the air line 35 preferably at the safety valve 33. The arrangement just described is such that should the pressure in the line 35 exceed the maximum required for operation of the apparatus, such excessive ypressure will immediately actuate the pressure switch 'I4 and break the circuit of the motor I3, irrespective of whether the time control switch 'I3 has run the limit of its predetermined period of time control. In use, the time control switch 'I3 may be set to close the electric circuit of the motor i3 and to maintain the circuit closed for a predetermined period of time, during which time the apparatus is maintained operative unless unexpected stoppage or other restriction in the air or liquid lines causes the pressure in the tank II to become excessive, whereupon the pressure switch I4 is immediately brought into action to prevent the building up of such excessive pressure as might result in damage to the apparatus.

Although a preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the principles of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail herein, it should be understood that the illustrated arrangement of the various units constituting the apparatus is illustative only, and that the units may be arranged with respect to one another in such positions and locations as might be indicated by the conditions of a particular installation.

I claim:

An apparatus for producing and ejecting an insecticide gas comprising, in combination, a sealed container for a liquid insecticide, an outlet conduit connecting with said container below the level of the liquid therein, an air line for delivering air at a greater than atmospheric pressure into the said container above the level of liquid therein to force the liquid through said conduit, a baffle in said conduit to restrict the ow of liquid therethrough, a second conduit connecting said container above the liquidlevel with a distribution manifold, flow regulators in said second conduit, an expansion valve having its inlet connecting with said liquid conduit and its discharge communicating with the second conduit at a point between the ilow regulators and manifold effective to discharge a fine stream of liquid into the air stream in said second conduit whereby the liquid is commingled with the air stream to produce a gaseous substance for delivery to said manifold, and means associated with the manifold to raise the temperature of the gaseous substance delivered thereto.

ARTHUR G. HOWARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 650,276' Robinson May 22, 1900 1,607,830 Kessel Nov. 23, 1926 1,808,956 Ketterer June 9, 1931 1,894,607 Carr Jan. 17, 1933 1,939,949 Bertram Dec. 19, 1933 2,003,363 Hodges et al June 4, 1935 2,004,001 Henkle June 4, 1935 2,022,266 Yedd Nov. 26, 1935 2,408,439 Muehlhofer Oct. l, 1946 2,434,374 Tull Jan. 13, 1948 

